Hydraulic cartridge for use in mining, quarrying, and like operations



June 14, 1932. H. B. SHEPPARD 1,863,236

HYDRAULIC CARTRIDGE FOR USE IN MINING, QUARRYING, AND LIKE OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 18, 1931 b l :MH/W \l M m an 6 dk C n m a} e d w m 6 0 d f h F 6 m 00 A 6 [4 1n Jump/x14 0 HENRY BERNARD SHEPPARD,

Patented June 14, 1932 HENRY BERNARD El HYDRAULIC CARTRIDGE FOR IN This invention relates to hydraulic cartridges of the lcind in which a flexible open ended container is gripped at its ends between interior and exterior nonliexible members mounted on support for the cartridge which support passes axially through the container, the container being expan dible under the action of fluid pressure conveyed to its interior through a conduit in the support, means a being provided on the cartridge for connecting it up to a source of supply of fluid pressure.

In a known construction of hydraulic cartridge of this kind the axial support for la the cartridge comprises telescopic members which are designed to permit the container to contract longitudinally or decrease in length as the container expands laterally or increases in diameter under inflation, springs being employed within the telescopic members tor exerting pressure against the ends of the container for normally holding it in an extended condition when deflated. Owing to the action of telescopic members some means has to be provided for limiting the amount of longitudinal extension of the container in order to prevent distortion or Weakening of said container that might take place it it were subjected to excessive longitudinal extension or stretching. The provision of such means entails the employment of longitudinal tie rods which are fitted exteriorly to the cartridge in such a manner as to permit the necessary sliding movement of the ends of the container.

In some cases the container has also been protected against rupture by the provision of an articulated reinforcing member applied xteriorly of the cartridge and adapted to expand laterally to a limited extent under the lateral expansion of the container whereby indefini be stretching of the container is avoided.

Consequent upon the provision to the cartridge of either or both the protective means against excessive stretching or extension of the container, the hole required to be drilled in the mass for the insertion of the cartridge has to be drilled of an unusually large diamii'o eter in order to accommodate such protective PATENT @FFHQEL rrnnn, en Ens-Lani) Minn-re, Ann LIKE ornnnrrons Application filed December 18, 1931, Serial No. 581,926, and in Great Britain November 19, 1930.

means as well as the cart-rid s and owing to the impracticability of? drilling large holes especially in mines or hard masses of material at low cost, the of non-explosive cart-ridges of the fore 'oing type is prohibitive on account of excessive cost in drilling the holes. Further, such cartridges are in themselves a costly item due to the complicated construction of reinforcing or protect lug means required.

It is the object oi this invention, therefore, to provide an improved construction of hydraulic cartridge which will be (lGVOld of complicated cons" notion and be capable of use in substitution for the explosive cartridges now used without the necessity for drilling larger sized holes or at the most requiring only a slightly larger size of hole which can be drilled at little or no more cost.

According to this invention a hydraulic cartridge of the above indicat d kind is characterized in that the container is suitably secured to a non-extensible rigid member passing axially through it whereby lateral expansion of the container can take place on inflation by :tluid pressure whilst the length of said container remains constant.

Referring to the drawing filed herewith Fi 1 is an elevation of one form of h e draulic cartridge made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, half in section, of a modified form of cartridge.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is a rubber or other flexible sac or cont ner mounted around a member Z) passing .ily through it so that a chamber 0 obtains around said member into which fluid, semi-fluid, or semiplastic substance, is con "eyed by the member, the flexible container being gripped each end between a thimble (Z and an end cap 6 under the pressure of a nut f at one end and a gland g at the opposite end, the nut f and gland g engaging the screw threaded exterior of their respective thimbles (Z. The nut j is locked in position by lock nuts h engaging the screw threaded end of the fluid conveying member 79 whilst the gland g has an interior screw thread engagement with the adjacent screw threaded end of the fluid conveying member 6 whereby all the parts are secured together. The fluid conveying end of the member Z) is provided with a longitudinal passage j communicating with the chamber 0 of the container a by a cross port is. Engaging the screw threaded exterior of the gland g is a coupling m to which is connected a fluid supply pipe or tube a.

In use, the cartridge is placed-in a hole previously drilled in the rock, coal or the like and fluid under pressure from a source of supply passes through the tube a, longitudinal passage j and cross port 79 to the chamber 0 and exerts a pressure therein which acting against the flexible wall ofthe container ere pands the same laterally against the wall of. the hole until the pressure is suflicient to break the rock, whereupon the pressure fluid is cut offfand the cartridge withdrawn.

The fluid conveying member being a rigid 7 one, for example, a metal rod or tube, it retains the container at at a constant length under all conditions and also serves to facilitate the insertion of the cartridge in the hole.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of cartridge wherein-the thimbles (Z and end caps e are designed to give a better hold on the container a; I a

Preferably, though not necessarily, the container a is moulded on to the thimbles (Z during manufacture of the container.

provided'having communicating connections with one another for the passage of the fluid.

It is to be understood that any fluid, semifiuid, grease or semi-plastic substance may be employed that may be found suitable for the I purpose.

What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. A hydraulic cartridge comprising a rigid U non-extensible rod having a diameter of uniform cross section adjacent the ends thereof,

clamping engagement with the end of said expansible member, and holding means for the other thimble at the opposite end of said rod.

2. A hydraulic cartridge comprising a rigid non-extensible rod having a diameter of uniform cross section adjacent the ends thereof, thimbles adapted to be slid into place adjacent the ends of said rod, each of said thimbles having a raised portion at one end thereof constituting an abutment, an open-ended expansible container having its ends located behind the abutments on each thimble, a fluid duct in the rod for conducting fluid to the interior of the container, clamping members movable upon the thimbles to hold the ends of said expansible memher in fluid-tight relation with said abutments, means having an interior stepped portion mounted adjacent the one end of the rod to prevent endwise movements of one of the thimbles and to lock one of said clamping means in clamping engagement with the end of said eXpansible member, and holding means for the other thimble at the opposite 7 end of said rod.

In testimony whereof, I affiX my signature. HENRY BERNARD SHEPPARD.

llO

thimbles adapted to he slid into place 'adjacent the ends of said rod, each of said thimbles having a raised portion at one end thereof constituting an abutment, an open-ended expansible container having lts ends located behind the abutments on each thimble, a fluid duct in the rodfor conducting fluid to the interior of the container, clamping members movable uponthe thimbles'to hold the ends ofisaid expansible member in fluid-tight relation with said abutments, means mounted yadjacentthe'one end of the rod to prevent .endwise mo'vements of one of the thimbles and to lockone of said clamping means-in 

